Shovel.



UNITE ST-TES arnnr OFFIQE.

SHOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 9, 1906.

Application filed September 9, 1905. Serial No. 277,748.

T0 (0 whom it may concern:

= Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. C. Pars-v KER, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at San Saba, in the county of San Saba and Stateof Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shovels, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shovels, and has for itsobject to provide a construction of shovel wherein the blade is light,strong, and durable, adapted to accurately balance the load to permitthe shovel to be handled with less labor than ordinarily and to alsofacilitate its entrance into the earth when digging and secure a rapidpassage of the load onto the blade in scraping operations. The device isfurther designed as a combination implement in the carrying out ofvarious kinds of work for which hoes, shovels, and spades arecustomarily independently used.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in.

which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the shovel. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionthrough the blade on the line 3 3 of Fig, 1.

The blade 1 is of greater length than width and of concavo-conveX form,its greatest dish being at the center, where it is also of great estwidth. The result of this formation is that the weight of the load willbe concen trated at the center and balanced, thus adapting the shovel tobe easily handled. The side edges 2 of the blade are convexly curved andbeveled to a cutting edge, so that the shovel may be effectively used inedging, sod-cutting, and side-scraping work, the opposite edgesextending in convergent relation from the transverse center to the topand bottom edges of the blade. In practice it is preferred to form theblade of sheet metal with its upper edge 3 straight and its lower edgeconcaved, as shown at 4, the opposite side edges of the concaved portionproducing penetrating and gathering wings or points 5. This concavededge may be used either for digging or scraping purposes and increasesthe effectiveness of the shovel in collecting the earth, as the wings 5gather and force the load onto the body of the blade as the latter isthrust downward or forward. Such a form of penetrating end is foundpeculiarly effective in removing grass from walks and in similar cuttingand scraping manipulations and also in securing the entry of the bladeinto the earth with the expenditure of a relatively small degree offorce. The upper end of the blade has a substantially truncatetriangular portion 6, of which the edge 3 forms the base, said portionbeing formed by leaving the upper part of the blade straight and bendingthe same obliquely to the body of the blade on the inwardly-convergingfold-lines A A,whereby.such portion is brought to lie between and to bereinforced by the adjacent ends of the curved edges, thus strengtheningthe blade at the point where the handle is attached. The portion 6 isprovided with a suitably-formed socket 7, extending beyond the end 3 toreceive the lower end of the handle 8, which is suitably securedtherein, the handle being formed with an oblique tang 9, riveted orotherwise fastened to the portion 6. Any other mode of applying thehandle may, however, be employed.

In addition to the uses set forth the device may be employed as a sandor grain shovel, as its rapid gathering qualities enable thesesubstances to be easily scooped, while the form of the blade insurestheir retention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anduseful is A shovel comprising a dished blade of greater length thanwidth and of maximum width and dish along its central transverse line,the forward edge of the blade being formed with an arcuate concavity andthe side edges of the blade being beveled to form cutting edges whichconverge from the center toward the front and rear edges of the blade,the upper or rear end of the blade having an oblique truncate trian ularportion, a socket carried by said trianguIar portion, and a handleapplied to the socket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK S. O. PEISKER.

IVitnesses:

P. H. WALKER, TQM WILLIAMS.

